Stramaccioni bemoans injury-hit season

May 20, 2013 8:44 AM EST

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Andrea Stramaccioni rued Inter's injury crisis as his side ended their Serie A campaign in a disappointing ninth position.

The under-pressure coach is hoping the club's hierarchy show leniency when deciding his future, and feels that the quality of the team belies their league position.
Stramaccioni's charges finished their campaign with a whimper as they were demolished 5-2 by Udinese on Sunday.

But he emphasised that mitigating circumstances made it difficult for Inter to perform to their usual standards.
"Results matter in football and we've done badly in the last two months," Stramaccioni said.
"But it's impossible not to consider what's happened to us in any assessment of the team. Not only for me but for the players.

"We've had to play people out of position, field a string of youngsters and had five centre-backs out through injury.
"What matters most now is that we don't get anything wrong in building the new Inter. Everything is in the head.
"I think (Massimo) Moratti (club president) has very clear ideas about how to rebuild and from tomorrow he'll be working on that.

"The most important thing we can do now is turn the page on a very negative season in which all sorts of things have happened."

The 37-year-old refused to be drawn on whether he would remain in charge of the team next season.
He added: "Have I been officially confirmed (to stay)? I can't speak for Moratti, it's only right that he should be the one to speak, though I know because he's told me of course."